This menu uses filtered pink noise test tones to set equal volume levels
for all speakers (left front, center, right front, right surround, center
back, left surround, and subwoofer) to ensure proper surround sound
reproduction. Setting the output levels using the test procedure provides
the most accurate adjustment so that digital surround sound material will
be reproduced as it was intended and is a critical step in calibrating the
system.
Note: If you have configured your system to use two center back
speakers, there will be an additional line in the menu, giving
you the ability to independently adjust the CENTER BACK 1 and
CENTER BACK 2 speakers.
To access this menu and perform the test tone calibration, you can be
in any surround mode except BYPASS with any input except the MULTI
INPUT. Enter the OSD menu system and select TEST TONE from the
MAIN MENU to reach this screen.
When you enter the TEST TONE menu, you will hear a test tone coming
from the highlighted speaker. Highlight different speakers by moving the
cursor to the desired line using the UP/DOWN buttons. The test tone will
shift accordingly to the selected speaker.
Seated in the normal listening location, shift the test tone to the various
speakers. Using the one speaker as a reference, listen for any speakers
that are noticeably louder or quieter. If so, adjust that speaker’s levels up
or down (in 1dB increments) using the +/– buttons. Continue switching
among the speakers and adjusting until all are the same volume.
To return to the MAIN menu, press the ENTER button. Press the MENU/
OSD button on the remote to cancel the menu display and return to
normal operation.
Calibration with an SPL meter:
Calibrating the system with an SPL (Sound Pressure Level) meter, rather
than by ear, provides more precise results and improves the system’s
performance significantly. Inexpensive SPL meters are widely available
and the procedure is quick and easy.
Both Dolby and DTS specify a standard calibration level for all theaters
to ensure that soundtracks can be played at the volume level intended by
the director of the film. This reference level should result in spoken dialog
played at a realistic level for normal speech with the loudest peaks in any
single channel at about 105dB. The receiver’s test tones are generated
at a precise level (-30dBFs) relative to the loudest possible digitally
recorded sound. At the Dolby or DTS reference level, these test tones
should produce a 75dB reading on an SPL meter.
Set the meter to its 70dB dial setting with SLOW response and C-
weighting, held away from your body at your listening position
(mounting the SPL meter on a camera tripod makes this easier). You can
point the SPL meter at each speaker as it is being measured; however,
positioning the meter in a fixed position pointing at the ceiling is easier
and probably produces more consistent results.
Increase the master volume control on the receiver until the meter reads
75dB (+5dB on the meter scale) when playing the test tone through one
of the front speakers. Then, use the individual channel adjustments on the
TEST TONE menu to adjust each of the individual speakers, including the
subwoofer, to the same 75dB on the SPL meter.
Note: Due to meter weighting curves and room effects, the actual
level of the subwoofer may be slightly higher than you measure.
To compensate, Dolby suggests setting the subwoofer several dB
lower when calibrating with an SPL meter (i.e. set the subwoofer
to read 72dB on the meter instead of 75dB). Ultimately, the
proper subwoofer level must be determined by personal taste and
some listeners prefer to set it above 75dB for film soundtracks.
Exaggerated bass effects come at the expense of proper blending
with the main speakers and place stress on the subwoofer and
its amplifier. If you can localize bass from the subwoofer, the
subwoofer level may be too high. Music can be useful for fine-
tuning the subwoofer level as excessive bass is readily apparent.
The proper setting will generally work well for music and movie
soundtracks.
Remember the setting of the master volume control used during this
calibration. To play a Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack at the reference
volume level, simply return to that volume setting. Note that most home
theater listeners find this setting to be excessively loud. Let your own ears
be the judge for deciding how loud to playback movie soundtracks and
adjust the master volume control accordingly. Regardless of your listening
levels, using an SPL meter to calibrate equal levels for all speakers in the
system is recommended.
Delay Setup
